Key chain with religious reminder attached thereto



W. L. DENNIS Oct. 23, 1951 KEY CHAIN WITH RELIGIOUS REMINDER ATTACHEDTHERETO Filed March 14, 1950 wal lacq L.Dennis IN VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 23, i951 KEY CHAIN WITH RELIGIOUS REMINDER ATTACHEDTHERETO Wallace L. Dennis, Gadsden, Ala.

Application March 14, 1950, Serial No. 149,617

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates broadly to key rings, chains, and the like buthas more particular reference to those which are used for carrying andlinking so-called car keys, for instance, ignition and trunk keys.

An object of the invention is to utilize the keyring, or chain, as thecase may be, as a carrier for an amulet which functions not only as acharm but is primarily instrumental as a constant reminder to drivecarefully and with due obedience and consideration for others at alltimes. Automobile drivers, for the most part, exercise due diligence andcaution. However, and no matter how observing they are, the toll ofaccidents mounts from year to year. More likely than not, many suchaccidents are traceable to carelessness notwithstanding the admonitionsof the National Safety Council that all must obey accepted regulationsand strive to be law and order respecting individuals.

Key chain charms and religious medals and keepsakes of many and variedkinds are used by innumerable drivers to assist in hopefully carryingout their daily driving requirements. Perhaps, too, there are those whohabitually carry the holy Bible, this for the common good of allconcerned. If, however, the latter is out of sight in the glovecompartment or elsewhere, it is often likely to be out of mind.

In carrying out the principles of the present invention I combine aflexible element, such as a chain, keys, and a Worthy talisman, theBible, to provide a more reliable ways and means to promote respect fortraffic rules and regulations.

To this end, I employ a miniature, but nevertheless effective, Bible.The latter is normally encased in a transparent sheath and the two arechained or otherwise hingedly joined to provide a unique but effectiveassemblage functioning as a reliable and constant reminder to drive asthey would have others drive.

'In keeping with my inventive ideas the Bible, with its inscribed titlethereon, is visible through the transparent cover portions of thecompanion sheath. Then, too, the Bible is a further reminder in that itmay be swung out of the sheath and significant messages referred to andread from time to time. Therefore, the over-all adaptation is one inwhich manufacturers and users will find their needs fully met, containedand effectively available.

Objects and advantages in addition to those above set forth will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings where- 2 in like numerals areemployed to designate like' parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the aforementioned reminder with achain and key attached thereto;

ing the illustration in Figure 2 looking from.

bottom to top and showing the Bible swung to its fully open positionand, in addition, completely removed, except for the chain, to a readilyopenable and readable position in phantom lines.

Referring now to the illustrative drawings with the assistance ofreference numerals and accompanying lead lines it Will be seen that theminiature Bible (book or the like) is denoted by the numeral 6. Inpractice this will be a genuine Bible of appropriate size for pocket andcar use and the leaves 8 thereof will be printed to carry the tencommandments and such other prayers and messages as are thought to besignificantly appropriate by the publisher. The front cover 10 willdisplay, as usual, the title Holy Bible. The back cover l2 (see Figure3) will be provided with a card or label I4 in the nature of a printedblank form corresponding to an identification card hav ing places forthe name, address, and telephone number of the owner. The leaves andcover members are integrated with the usual binding or so-called back.[6. The covers and leaves will be pierced to provide a, passage for akey chain [8. The expression chain is obviously intended to comprehendan endless flexible element, ring or other equivalent holder for one ormore car keys. For simplification I have shown a single key 20 attachedto the chain in Figure l.

The protecting and enclosing sheath is denoted by the numeral 22. Thisis preferably made from transparent commercial plastic material andcomprises cover members 24 and 26 joined by a hinging web 28. Since thesheath is substantially U-shaped in cross-section the part 28 could, ofcourse, be referred to as the bight. The corner portions 30-30 are alsoapertured and the apertures are reinforced by grommets 32-32. Thesegrommet-equipped holes or apertures are lined up, obviously, with thepassage through the corresponding corner portion of the Bible and thechain passes slidably therethrough. In practice the chain will be ofsufiicient length to provide the desired slack so that the cover members24 and 26 may be spread slightly apart to facilitate swinging the Bible6 from its enclosed position shown in Fig. l to the partly openpositions shown in Figures 2' and '3or "the wholly projectedpositronshown in dotted lines in Fig. 4; The parts, when in the'position shownin Figure 3, will serve to bring the identification card I4 into play ifnec essaryor desired. The parts as sno'wnin Figure 2 render the Biblepartly accessible for use, and,

as stated, the Bible may be bodily withdrawn from the sheath, due to theslack provided in the chain and may then be opened up for reading, if sodesired and brought out in Fig. 4.

It will be noted in thedrawing that the Bible has a definiterelationship to the sheath. That is to" say; the binding orback'lt facesoutwardly whereas the turnable edge portions'ot the leaves Bare opposedto the bight or web portion 28' '0f said" sheath. This insures againstundue wear and tear of the Bible in its normally enclosed position. Thentoo, the cover members 26- and 26 of the-sheath'will be of sufli'cientresiliency as to lightly clamp the Bible in its enclosedpositio'n. Thus,by having the back I 6 lined up with the open marginal edge portion ofthe sheath-it is aneasy matter'to catchhold of the Bible with thefingers and-swing it out to its usable position; Furthen'byhaving thechain connection situated at corresponding corner portions of the sheathand Bible, the latter may be swung in and out with requisite freedom andmay bemore easily opened'up for reference and reading purposes.Furthermore, since the sheath is of transparent material, the Bible andaccompanying title or otherindicia, even though encased therein, will beat all times visible to serve as the aforementtioned constant safedriving reminder. Finally, inactual practice, there'Wil-Ibe inscribedon; the sheath, at a suitable place, the inscription,xThou shalt notkill. 7

His thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be'able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafterconsideri'ng the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy descrip tion'is regardedas unnecessary."

Minor changes in the shape, size-and arrange-- ment of details comingwithin the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in-- actualpram time; if desired.

Havingdescri-bed the=invention, what is claimed 'as'new is:

1 A constant reminder-comprising a sheath;- U sha'ped in cross-sectionand embodyinga,v pair of spaced parallel cover members joined togetheralong-corresponding longitudinal fed'ges by a re silient bight portion,said cover members being transparent and the free longitudinal edgeportions of said cover members remote from said bight portion beingspreadable and providing an intervening variable space, a bound bookslightly smaller than and fitted within the confines of said sheath, thebound edge portion of said book being remote from said bight portion andsituated in andc aligned with said space andthe openable edge portionbeing contiguous with and parallel to said bight portion, at least onesurface of said book having printed indicia which is clearly visiblethrough the adjacent cover member of said sheath, 'a'nd an endlessflexible element situated adjacent said bound edge portion and having aportion thereof passing through opening means provided therefor incorresponding corner portions of said cover members and the interveningcorresponding corner of-said book, the length of said element being suchas to permit said book to be rotated through said space and, if desired,bodily'dislodged and moved through said space'to a position outside ofthe bounds of said sheath.-

2. A constant reminder comprising 'a'subs'tan' tially rectangulartransparent u-sh'apea-sheath embodying a pair of resilient spacedparallel cover members joined together along corresponding longitudinaledges through the medium of an intervening resilient bight portion,the'reinaini'ng longitudinal edges defining an intervening" space,corresponding corner portions of said'cover mem= b'ersbeing providedWith'holes, said holes being situated-at one transverse end of-th'esheath ad: jac'ent tosaid space and remotefrom-saiu bight portion, abound booknormally enclosed-within theconfine's of said sheath, saidbook having printed indicia thereon visible through-saidtrans= parentcover members, one corner portion-of said book adjacent to the boundedge portion having a passage aligned with said holes; and eloh= gatedflexible element slidably laced through the respective holes-andpassage; said flexible element being endless, being located adjacentsaid bound edge portion; and being of a length to allow use book'to beswungoutwardly through said space from its positionwi thi-n theconfinesof thes'l iea't-h to a position Wholly beyond the aforementioned m p r ins and the respective-holes-and p sage in the latter.

WALLACE L; DENNIS;

REFERENCES CITED Thef'ollo'wing references are of record in the file-ofthis patent:

